Chapter 3

KOUSUKE HAYATE

"Why are we still celebrating my birthday here, uncle? We used to celebrate here when I was a

child and now we still celebrate my birthday here?" I nagged and my uncle hit me again.

"Ever since your mom gave birth to you, your dad always wanted to celebrate your birthday here

in this house. So do not complain there, as if you are a son of a rich man. Learn to be grateful for

what you have now," uncle said and it surprised me to hear those. I didn't know that this house is

our home.

Did I not know or did I just forget?

This house is my home, where the laughter happens from my mom and my dad. Those bricks were

laid one at a time, perhaps on a fine spring day. I let my eyes wander the roughness and how each

is so very straight. This house was made with love, that's for sure. The house was long and

narrow, perhaps only twelve feet wide at the front, but it stretched some thirty feet back like a

giant shoe box.

"Your dad made this house, it was based on a game he used to play. It is no secret to you that he is

a formulator of games. So it is not new to me if you inherited it from your dad who is addicted to

mobile games. So I hope that does not lead you to disaster," he said as he pulled a chair and took a

seat. I can smell what he was cooking, pork ribs if I am not mistaken.

He always cooks my favorite dish and I can see the ingredients at the table kitchen and those were

the ingredients of takoyaki. "Uncle, can I know what killed my parents? I am at the right age, at a legal age so I hope you tell me. I can accept what they died for," I said and he looked at me sincerely.

"Not what my child but who," he said to my surprise. Killed my parents?

My hands formed into fist while my uncle looked at it. "Tell me more uncle," I said and heard him

sigh.

"I am not telling you the assassins who killed them. But I will tell you why, so please be brave,"

he said, giving a shudder to my chest. Adrenaline floods my system, It pumps and beats like it's

trying to escape. My brain could not absorb what had happened to my parents.

"I will," I shortly answered and uncle nodded.

"One night your father was invited for a formal dinner of the most respected man here in our city.

Your father was surprised and doubted the invitation, your mother was worried that night and had

the feeling that something was wrong, something was up. But your father insisted on going, that

night I too feel the fear because we know everything. Your father is one of the formulators of God

Game and your mother and I believe that he was up to this. Everyone was up to that game and we

don't even know why it was like a big treasure for them to be like that. You were sleeping that time Kousuke and I can't sit still in my seat while watching over you. While your mom is outside waiting for your dad. I do not know but I feel something strange. But when your dad got home that night I lost my nervousness. Your mom talked to him about what happened. What they did not know was that I was listening to their conversation. I know your dad is hiding something, he just doesn't want your mom to worry. It was about eleven o'clock in the evening when your father knocked on the door. He talked to me about the invitation. I was shocked and scared and immediately looked at you sound asleep. You were only a few years old then but your parents seemed to be on the brink of death. I could see the pain in his eyes. He kissed you and kissed you again and again. And he gave you to me and told me to get away. I also asked if your mom knew even though I already knew the answer. At those times I loaded you and it seemed like your weight was heavy. My nervousness and trembling were incessant. And then I heard the cars. We weren't too far away then and I seemed to stop running. I saw their merciless rain of bullets all over the house. And when they were not satisfied, they entered the house. At that time I should have been running while carrying you but no, I was still watching them. I saw them pulling your dad and mom. They are full of blood but they still have no mercy. They even shoot your parents until they get bored. And then I saw him, the man who plotted everything."I seemed stunned by what my uncle had told me. I can't even swallow my own saliva. I do not know what to say after the filthy past. Uncle seemed to feel it so he immediately got up from his seat and approached me. He said nothing but he just rubbed my back.

"You will always remember that in case something happens, follow your heart and trust yourself

and never do anything outrageous. We should celebrate because it is your birthday. Happy

birthday my child Kousuke," he said and I can't help but smile and nod.

***

11:11 pm

Near time for fireworks display

"Uncle! I need to get a signal okay? I'll be back!" I shouted and heard him yelled back telling me

okay and come back soon before the fireworks started.

I need to get fast and be back again. I just need to log in into the God Game so I can claim my

treasure chest and my fragments and my rare skin that Hinata gifted to me. She messaged me a

while ago for her present and I can't help but to feel grateful, I will give her rare skin that she likes

someday.

I was close to the zone area where the signal was strong when I felt strange again. I felt like

someone was following me again. I immediately looked at my cellphone when I was able to log

in. I go to live plays and look because there are so many new ones. Completely forgetting the

strange feeling. I decided to play first for a while. Due to the strong signal everything became easy

for me. My heart beat faster when I saw the unbelievable first vault. My heart almost pounded as I

looked out over the first vault.

"Oh shit," I breathe. I can't believe it. I was about to open it when someone talked behind my

back.

My fear returned suddenly.

"Born to win and born to lose but tonight you are born to die."

And that night I died.